India Log book...

Pages

Whenever the
prestigious Olympic comes after a hiatus of four years, one burning question
rises in India
- 'Why we as a nation fail in Olympics'. This time is also no exception. But
the only differentiator is, first time Chinese media tried to scrutinize the
causes behind it. And it is really interesting to know that they are mostly
correct in their analysis. Chinese media listed out some reasons in this
regard. These are poor health, poverty, lack of infrastructure, popularity of
cricket over other sports, lack of information about Olympics in rural areas, vegetarianism,
lack of interest among youths etc. In fact, Chinese media lambasted India's always
poor show in the world's most grand event. When Chinese are saying anything
about India,
it is bound to make ripples. But surprisingly Indian leaders, sports ministry
and in fact, media too are already aware of these hard hitting facts.

India is a country of over one billion
people. But they are not capable to bring handful of medals from Olympics. India's sports
federations are run by bureaucrats and ministers who have zero knowledge about
games. What could be more inglorious for country is that Union Sports minister of India
Mr. Vijay Goel was threatened by Rio 2016 organising committee to cancel his accreditation on grounds of misbehavior and trying to enter venues with his entourage without no valid passes. Though minister rejected these allegation but this can easily explain how much India is
serious about promoting sports in the country where leaders grab every single opportunity
to just go to the games in a foreign country with their huge entourage which
has no interest in games. Their only intention and attention were to have free
dalliance.

But despite all odds,
individually some sportspersons are making the difference. Yes they are few but
their success at many international tournaments brought some hope and
government attention. But government and their machinery have a lot of things
to do to develop a fair sports atmosphere in India. There are many budding
talents but their hard work always goes in vain. Government has to keep its
eyes wide open and start striking right notes to bring hope among
sportspersons.

With the deeper penetration of gadgets into our life, we surely started reading and watching a lot of stuff online. But in the chaos of being everything online, somewhere we are leaving good habits of substantial reading. A good book have the charisma to transcend its reader into a different world. It can unearth the world of knowledge, imagination, passion and wisdom. It's always good to read and learn about great personalities. Their perspective of life is very much different from what an average person usually perceives. Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs is extensive but one can enjoy every bit of it. Jobs spent seven months in India roaming in Delhi, Haridwar, villages around nainital and in Manali. According to book, later he said about the trip to India as-

"The people in the Indian countryside don't use their intellect like we do, they use their intuition instead, and their intuition is far more developed than in the rest of the world".

There are two
types of people in this world. One is pessimist and another is optimist. Sanjay
is the second type. He is full of hope for a brighter future. Sanjay is a mechanic
and runs a car service center in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. His shop is small but he has really big ideas for life. He
recalls that day in year 2000, when his family sold some of their farm land to the
government. They got money in the form
of compensation. But instead of spending on luxury they built their house and
invested in his older brother Rajeev’s car service center business. That paid off and later Rajeev started
pushing Sanjay to learn car repairing techniques.

Sanjay is the second in the family. He has two
younger brothers. He smiles and says, he is the only person who went to
complete 8th standard in school. But this never bothers him. Sanjay believes
more than education one needs to be aware things around them and grab rightful
opportunities without hesitating.

Now Sanjay
want to take a big leap in the future. Along with brothers, Sanjay
enthusiastically want to venture into a car service dealership form India’s
number one car company. For this, he is hopeful of raising huge amount of money.
Sanjay says, one should think big to achieve big. His little eyes are full of
dreams...

New York Times apologised for a cartoon published in
its newspaper. Cartoon categorically depicts India's Mars space mission as an
attempt to enter into elite club of space missions. Before moving ahead, let’s
talk about this cartoon first.

Controversial cartoon depicts an Indian scientist with
a buffalo. Scientist is wearing a traditional Indian attire dhoti and knocking
at the cabin where two elite scientists are reading a newspaper. Newspaper's
headline writes India's Mars mission. Cartoon depicts how India is trying to
enter this elite club of Mars mission where developed countries already have a
presence.

Hong Kongbased
Cheng has made this cartoon, who is famous for cartoons on world affairs. So
what made New York Times to pull out this cartoon? Many readers complained that
cartoon is full of racial overtone and mocks India's ambitious mars mission.
This is not a first incident and I feel this won't be the last.

What India has achieved from her maiden Mars mission
attempt, some developed countries took many attempts in reaching there. Across
the world many scientists have been dumbstruck at the low cost of India's Mars
mission 'Mangalyan'. This strong feat is in fact, less commendable in developed
country’s media. Rather they published a cartoon to mock at the ability of
developing country’s scientists.

Racial abuses in a developed country like Australia on
Indians are not a new story. Many Indian students were brutally attacked and
forced to flee from the country. Though Indian government took a firm stand on
this issue but again there were recurrent issues of racial slur reported in
Australia.

I feel, it is basically a result of colonial mindset
which is still prevalent in the western countries. But what they failed to
understand that world has changed a lot since last 50-60 years. Free movement
of talent is a standard norm in 21st centaury. World is fast becoming a global
village. No country can afford remain isolated. Ideas and information are
easily accessible. Every country is depended and at the same time need other
countries markets to expand. If the slightest incident of racial abuse occurs
it will hamper the right atmosphere. Mindset must change with rightful
germination of awareness.

Its a jouney to understand the political mood of the country. Extensive tour around the country just to take a look how common man is thinking about 2014 Indian general election. People will choose 543 member of parliament during month long, most expensive and extremly tiresome election process. It is thus important to notice whether local issues plays an important role in choosing a leader from a particular constitueny.

It seems Tonga is still a way of life in India. It is a easiest and most cheapest mode of transport at many places in the county. This photograph has been taken in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. Visit small towns and anyone can witness how mordern and ancient systems are still present and working fine. A complete paradox...

It is great that Anna is
gathering support of NRI's for his anti corruption movement outside India.
Leading a parade in New York is also an example in this regard. But the
question is how all these efforts will pay dividend in not so far general election
which is due next year. It may happen soon also. Anna's movement, if we see
correctly, is confined to mostly middle class. And this class has almost
minimal role in the democratic process of electing candidates. They always
regard Election Day as holiday and confine themselves inside the home or
involve in some stupid recreational activities rather than standing in the long
queues to cast their valuable votes for a genuine candidate. Their so called
aggression is limited to writing on web, liking pages, twitting and lighting
candles to support the cause. It is alright to do all these things and nothing
wrong in that but, it is also important to do more than that.

Till now, middle class’s participation
in the election process was not even consequential when compared to lower classes
who take all pain to cast every valuable vote despite adverse weather
conditions and other reasons. Voting percentage in lower living condition areas
are always higher than in high living condition areas. That’s why major
political parties are not even bothered yet and they have started trying to woo
their vote bank with all means. Samajwadi Party is already distributing free
laptops in Uttar Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chauhan is giving away bicycles in
Madhya Pradesh and latest news is UPA government led by congress party is
working towards providing free tablet computers to poor students.

What all things denote? In my
perspective, awareness for the electoral process is more important to make a
drastic change. Lack of motivation in the middle class should be channelized into
active participation in the democratic process. Let’s hope for a better future
and for that let’s hope for drastic increase in voter percentage in those areas
where it is almost negligible.